Supreme Court Justice Nathan Hecht broke the law when he failed to disclose a $168,000 break in legal fees he received last year, state ethics investigators have said. The matter must still be decided by the State Ethics Commission, and it's not clear when they will rule, the Associated Press reports.

More from the story:

At issue is an estimated $168,000 discount on legal fees that Hecht, the longest-serving member of the Texas Supreme Court, received from attorney Chip Babcock and his law firm, Jackson Walker. Hecht says the discount was legal and proper.

However, the staff of the Texas Ethics Commission, tasked with investigating a sworn complaint against Hecht, found that the reduction in fees was actually a campaign contribution but was not listed as such on the judge's campaign finance reports. ... The flap stems from a 2006 abuse of office complaint that Hecht eventually overturned. Hecht was sanctioned in 2006 by the State Commission on Judicial Conduct, which alleged that he had abused his office by promoting Harriet Miers for a seat on the U.S. Supreme Court. (While defending himself and getting the sanction reversed) Hecht racked up about $440,000 in legal fees.

The group Texas Watch --- which has no affiliation or connection to this site, Texas Watchdog --- filed the complaint against Hecht that led to the state ethics investigation.